grip

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive, transitive) To take hold (of), particularly with the hand.
2. (transitive) To figuratively take hold of or grasp.
3. (transitive) Of an emotion or situation: to have a strong effect upon.
4. (transitive) To firmly hold the attention of.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand.
2. (uncountable) Ability to resist slippage when pressed in contact with another object or surface.
3. (countable, uncountable) A place to grip; a handle; the portion of a handle that the hand occupies.
4. (countable, uncountable) A device, or a portion of one, that grasps or holds fast to something.
5. (countable, uncountable) A device, or a portion of one, that grasps or holds fast to something.
6. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Assistance; help; encouragement.
7. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Someone who is helpful, interesting, admirable, or inspiring.
8. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Control, power, or mastery over someone or something; a tenacious grasp; a holding fast.
9. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Mental grasp.
10. (countable, uncountable) A medium-sized bag or holdall for one's belongings, made of soft leather, canvas etc., and carried in the hand by two handles, one either side of the opening.
11. (countable, uncountable) A visual component on a window etc. enabling it to be resized and/or moved by dragging with a mouse or finger.
12. (countable, uncountable) A person responsible for handling equipment on the set.
13. (countable, slang, uncountable) As much as one can hold in a hand; a handful.
14. (California, Southern, countable, slang, uncountable) A lot of something.
15. (California, Southern, countable, slang, uncountable) A long time.
16. (alt-of, archaic, countable, uncountable) Archaic spelling of grippe (“influenza”).
17. (countable, uncountable) A small travelling-bag or gripsack.

Noun

1. (dialectal) A small ditch or trench; a channel to carry off water or other liquid; a drain.
2. A channel cut through a grass verge, especially for the purpose of draining water away from the highway.

Synonyms

grasp

hold

seize

clutch

handle

grab

catch

clasp

clench

haft

clamp

🗜️

flu

influenza

capture

knob

take

hilt

grapple

hold firmly

travelling bag

traction

bite

fascinate

clutches

suitcase

take hold of

squeeze

handgrip

firm hold

bag

nip

seizure

transfix

butt

hook

🪝

understanding

adhere

clinch

lock

🔒

touch

valise

hairgrip

gripsack

spellbind

stock

pinch

catch hold of

bobby pin

press

compress

Translations

Griff

poignée

greifen

agarrar

grijpen

saisir

presa

ergreifen

coger

asir

impugnatura

afferrare

stretta

prendre

prise

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɡɹɪp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: grippen

Inherited from Old English: grippan

Cognate with Old High German: gripfen

Cognate with Old English: grīpan

Inherited from Middle English: grippe

Inherited from Old English: gripe

Cognate with German: Griff

Inherited from Old English: gripa

Cognate with Swedish: grepp

Inherited from Middle English: grip

Inherited from Old English: grēp

Cognate with Middle Dutch: grippe

Cognate with Old English: grōp

In summary

Verb from Middle English grippen, from Old English grippan, from a Proto-Germanic *gripjaną (compare Old High German gripfen); compare the related Old English grīpan, whence English gripe. See also grope, and the related Proto-Germanic *grīpaną.
Noun from Middle English grippe, gripe, an amalgam of Old English gripe (“grasp, hold”) (cognate with German Griff) and Old English gripa (“handful”) (cognate with Swedish grepp).